The train stopped at last at a little country station, and a gentleman jumped out. He had only just crossed the station yard, when he noticed a little girl, about nine years old, who had also come by the train, and was carrying a large bundle, nearly as big as herself. He asked her where she was going, and found that it was about a quarter of a mile along the same road that he had to pass.
“But what a big bundle you have, my child! would you like me to carry it for you?”
“O, thank you, sir! If you wouldn’t mind, I should be very glad.”
So the gentleman lifted the bundle from her arms, and took hold of the little girl’s hand, saying,
“But are you not rather frightened to trust a stranger? Don’t you think I might run away with your bundle?”
The child said she was not at all afraid of that, and looked very happy as she trotted along by his side, chatting to him the whole time, and telling him everything she could think of about herself and her friends until they reached the house where she was to stay, when she took her bundle, gratefully bidding him good-bye.
As the gentleman walked on alone, he thought to himself,
“That child has taught me a wonderful lesson of simple TRUST. She was quite content that I, a perfect stranger, should carry her bundle, and with the utmost confidence, placed her hand in mine, that I might lead her along; and as we walked together, hand in hand, she talked to me of all that was in her heart.”
Do the children, who read this, know what it is to feel that their sins are like a heavy burden which they cannot carry?
If so, listen to the voice of that most loving of all friends, who says,
That little girl trusted a perfect stranger; surely you will trust Jesus when He offers so kindly to take away your burden of sin.
Think of His great love wherewith He loved us, such great love that He died a dreadful death upon the cross to save us.
Then, having trusted Jesus to take away your sins, place your hand in His, and expect Him to lead you safely all through life’s journey to your Father’s house above.
And mind, dear children, that you don’t forget another thing that this little girl did; all the way she kept talking to the kind gentleman who was carrying her burden; so, while listening daily to your Saviour’s voice, speaking to you in your Scripture portions, talk to Him often, and tell Him all that is in your heart.
ML 11/27/1927